Gateway Recognizes Employee Spirit of Innovation

At the Spirit of Innovation reception last night, Gateway Community & Technical College recognized employees who developed innovations this school year that furthered college goals and provided excellent service to students.

Gateway's Enhanced Operator Certificate Program was named the Peoples Choice and top project of the evening. This project will be submitted to the national League for Innovation in Community College's Innovation of the Year recognition.

The Spirit of Innovation recognition program, sponsored by the Gateway Community & Technical College Foundation, promotes an entrepreneurial culture within Gateway by showcasing innovative learning and support activities that help the college meet its strategic goals.

Gateway employees submitted video presentations of their projects for review by the selection committee and public. The Peoples Choice award was given to the project that received the most votes online for their project video. The project submitted to the League of Innovation received the most points on the evaluation rubric set forth by the League of Innovation, which includes quality, efficiency, replication, creativity and timeliness. Below are summaries of all of the Spirit of Innovation entries.

Embedded Librarian Program: The Embedded Librarian program inserts Gateway library faculty and staff into Blackboard (Bb) online courses as teaching assistants, providing personalized services to online students. Library staff field students questions and concerns within the classroom environment while anticipating and locating resources students might find useful to be successful in class.

Enhanced Operator Certificate Program: The Enhanced Operator Program is an innovative collaboration between Gateway and its manufacturing partners to design a competency-based curriculum that is industry aligned, driven by employer need and relevant to the workforce for which it is created. In this 16-week course, credentials earned can be stacked toward higher credentials and provide immediate entry into high-wage, high demand jobs.

Exam Blitz!!! This student-driven approach to exam prep utilizes peer tutoring and active learning classroom technology to help students succeed in BIO 137 and 139 courses. Through an integrated classroom set-up that encourages group work and discussion, students have an opportunity to collaborate in their problem solving and understanding of course material.

Fitness and Yoga Center: This endeavor will transform the Gateway Edgewood Campus fitness center into a space for employees get and stay active and for students to learn through experience. Exercise Science students will participate in the facilitation of the room and experience working with clients. Employees interested in a healthy place to work and learn can use the equipment for a nominal monthly fee of $5.

Gateway Computer Service and Repair: This student-run business offers experience and hands-on training to current Business and IT majors while providing a resource for students and employees, alike, to have their technological needs met on campus. As an ongoing Service Learning project, these students are able to learn new technological skills and practice working through problems in the work environment.

Gateway Innovative Educators: Born from the desire to eliminate workplace silos by increasing collaboration, employee morale, and the innovative spirit at Gateway; this strictly voluntary group of positive and enthusiastic employees are committed to making Gateway a better place. By reframing the conversation to Wouldnt It Be Great If?, this cross-functional group is taking action to innovatively solve problems.

Information Commons: The Information Commons model is completely changing the way Gateway students are served and employees and community members engage. The Information Commons is a central place at each Gateway campus location where students and employees can get all of their questions answered and have all of their needs addressed. Through the creation of collaborative learning environments at all campuses, the Information Commons allows faculty and staff to connect with one another and with students.

Meet, Mentor, Mix - Mission Gateway: Gateway faculty and Walton Verona Schools pooled their resources to create a collaborative learning, mentoring and networking outreach program. This Science-Club-turned-outreach-program has resulted in full-circle collaboration between students and faculty at both institutions and has continually marketed Gateway's quality and educational resources to the Walton Verona administration and staff, parents, and students.

R.E.A.L. Peer Mentoring: The R.E.A.L Peer Mentor Program is designed to provide all students with Resources, tools for Empowerment, self-Advocacy and Leadership. Mentors provide individual case management for topics related to homelessness, substance abuse, parenting, public benefits, housing, career, education, community, and more. Through this peer-to-peer approach, the program is able to serve the student body from the inside-out.

Write On, Gateway! Writing Workshop Write on, Gateway! is an open writing lab for students and community members to come together to work on their various writing projects. Gateway provided a safe space for students to collaborate with each other, work on their projects together in a fun environment, and draw on resources as needed for feedback and help researching or writing.